Dodgers win division/ Ohtani heads to postseason/ Dodgers beat Padres clinch/ Newslooks/ LOS ANGELES/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani is headed to the postseason for the first time after the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the NL West title with a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. Ohtani went 3 for 5 with a go-ahead RBI, while the Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh inning to seal the win. This marks the Dodgers’ 11th division title in 12 seasons and earns them a first-round bye.
Ohtani and Dodgers Clinch NL West: Quick Looks
- Ohtani’s postseason debut: Shohei Ohtani is headed to his first MLB postseason after the Dodgers’ win over the Padres.
- Key performance: Ohtani went 3 for 5, driving in the go-ahead run and scoring another.
- Dodgers rally: A five-run seventh inning secured the Dodgers’ 41st comeback win of the season.
- Division title: The Dodgers claimed their 11th NL West title in 12 years and earned a first-round playoff bye.
- Injury concern: Freddie Freeman left the game with an ankle injury, adding concern to the Dodgers’ postseason hopes.
Ohtani Celebrates 1st Postseason as Dodgers Win NL West Over Padres
Deep Look
The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 11th NL West title in 12 seasons on Thursday night, defeating the San Diego Padres 7-2 at Dodger Stadium. The win also marked the first time superstar Shohei Ohtani will head to the postseason in his MLB career. After signing a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers this offseason, Ohtani now has the chance to showcase his talents on the October stage after spending his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, where he never made it to the playoffs.
Dodgers Clinch Behind Ohtani’s Key Performance
Ohtani played a pivotal role in Thursday’s win, going 3 for 5 and driving in the go-ahead run during the Dodgers’ crucial five-run rally in the seventh inning. The 2024 season has been nothing short of historic for Ohtani, who recently became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. On Thursday, Ohtani also became the first player to accumulate 400 total bases since 2001, further solidifying his impact on the game.
“Today I came to the stadium really wanting to clinch and I’m glad we were able to do that,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. Despite his dominant performance, Ohtani made a rookie mistake during the postgame celebration by not wearing goggles, resulting in his eyes stinging from the champagne-soaked celebration.
“It stung a little bit in my eyes,” Ohtani said, laughing, but added that it was an “awesome feeling” to finally make the postseason.
The Dodgers’ Comeback Win
The Dodgers entered the seventh inning trailing 2-0 after Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove held them scoreless through six innings. The tide turned when Will Smith blasted a two-run home run, tying the game at 2-2 and igniting the Dodgers’ rally.
“It got everyone going,” said Smith, who has hit 20 home runs in a season for the third time in his career. Musgrove’s strong start quickly unraveled, as the Dodgers followed up Smith’s homer with a flurry of hits and errors that opened the floodgates.
Pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández singled, and a catcher’s interference call allowed Andy Pages to reach base. Ohtani’s single drove in Hernández, and a throwing error by Fernando Tatis Jr. allowed Ohtani to reach second while Pages crossed the plate. A Mookie Betts single then brought home Ohtani and increased the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2.
Pages added the exclamation point in the eighth inning, hitting a two-run homer that sealed the Dodgers’ 7-2 win and division-clinching victory.
Postseason Outlook
By securing the NL West title, the Dodgers (now 95-64) have earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and will start their postseason run on October 5 in a best-of-five Division Series. The bye will give the Dodgers some much-needed rest, especially for players dealing with injuries, such as Freddie Freeman, who left the game after awkwardly colliding with Luis Arraez and the first base bag during the seventh inning.
Freeman, who has been instrumental to the Dodgers’ success, was seen on crutches and in a walking boot after the game, raising concerns about his availability for the postseason. Freeman’s status will likely be closely monitored leading up to the start of the Division Series.
“It’s total chaos, which is exactly how it should be, and it never gets old,” said Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes, reflecting on the team’s clubhouse celebration and the chaos of clinching another division title.
This division crown was the Dodgers’ first at Dodger Stadium since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when fans were absent from games. A sellout crowd of 52,433 attended Thursday’s game, creating an electric atmosphere as the Dodgers clinched the division on home turf for the first time since 2018.
Padres Fall Short
The San Diego Padres came into the game hoping to cut into the Dodgers’ division lead, but despite holding an early 2-0 advantage, they were unable to stop the Dodgers’ seventh-inning surge. Musgrove had pitched six scoreless innings before faltering, and San Diego’s defense fell apart under pressure.
The Padres now sit firmly in second place but will look to regroup as they head into the final stretch of the season. Despite their disappointing loss, the Padres are still in the playoff hunt, with important games ahead.
What’s Next
Dodgers: Los Angeles will travel to Colorado for a three-game series to close out the regular season before preparing for the playoffs.
Padres: San Diego looks to bounce back and finish strong as they return home to face the San Francisco Giants in their final series of the regular season.
